Lore Olympus
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 out of 5 stars
A beautiful story with gorgeous illustrations.
Lore Olympus is a retelling of Greek mythology, especially the story of Persephone. In Rachel Smythe’s work, the Olympic gods live in modern times and lead lives similar to those of mortals. They watch movies, go to parties and clubs, and drink too much. Persephone is a young goddess who had just moved to the big city from the care of her overprotective mother, Demeter. On her first night out, she is spotted by Hades, the god of the Underworld. His flattering comment starts a chain of events he did not predict.
This graphic novel is an absolute pleasure to read. The characters are modern but still retain the most characteristic trait of each mythological god or goddess. Persephone is young and slightly naive, Hades seems severe, Artemis hates men, and Hermes looks like a marathon runner. The story might seem simple, but it is well set in the original modern variation of the Olympic world. It is also very engaging, keeping the reader interested in the plot. Also, the beautiful illustrations complete the story. They stress the contemporary character of this graphic novel by their comic style and the bold colours used by the artist. My copy is also printed on good quality smooth paper and bound as a hardback with a breathtaking cover. I treat this book as a complete work of art— written and graphic.
Overall, I loved this story. I know I will come back to it if only to stare at the gorgeous illustrations. I cannot wait for the second volume.
A bookish daydream 